North Bay winery under scrutiny as CAL FIRE continues to investigate cause of Pickett Fire
NAPA COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- CAL FIRE investigators are still working to determine what caused the Pickett Fire in Napa County.
"We're not there quite yet," said James Clay, A CAL FIRE spokesperson said Tuesday, as the fire reached 91% containment.
Even though no official cause has been released, Hundred Acre Winery with property off Pickett Road has already been under public scrutiny.
Sam Singer, a spokesperson for the winery tells ABC7 News they are aware CAL FIRE is looking into the fire starting on their property, adding that an independent contractor had been working on a fireplace and later disposed of ashes.
Before the fire broke out, Hundred Acre Winery was set to host about 85 guests for an employee's daughter's wedding.
Napa County officials say the winery is not permitted to hold commercial activities, including weddings.
The winery insists the event was not commercial, but rather a favor for family and friends, with no payment involved.
CAL FIRE said investigators will look into any possible cause.
"We'll take reports from the area," said Clay. "They're looking into what that cause could be."
MORE: Pickett Fire burning in Napa Co. may have started from controlled burn gone wrong, evidence suggests
The winery acknowledged there was fireplace work being done, but that was unrelated to the wedding, which never actually happened at the property due to the fire breaking out. Singer said the outside contractor took ashes out of the fire place, put water on them and disposed of them.
The wedding was eventually moved to another venue due to the fire.
"We want to know the cause. We know the public wants to know," CAL FIRE said.
MORE: Pickett Fire live updates: All evacuations, warnings lifted, CAL FIRE says
As the investigation continues, residents say they are grateful for the quick response from firefighters.
"They didn't give that fire a chance to even breathe," said James Hernandez, a Hidden Valley resident.
Others described seeing strike teams and air support arrive almost immediately.
"I got to see day by day as the fire was going. The amount of air support up there, dropping retardant. it was amazing. You couldn't ask for a better response," added Hernandez.
"CAL FIRE has done a phenomenal job," said Calistoga resident Jennifer Barkley. "They're well versed in it after all these years, but to be bake to go up that quickly and be able to use historic fire lines and cut into those. I think that was probably what made it happen so quickly."
